Man charged with hitting woman with car in parking lot

MARTINSBURG, W.VA. - A Sissonville, W.Va., man was charged Wednesday with hitting a woman with his car in a club parking lot, according to police.

Matthew James Taylor, 28, of 103 Young Road, was charged with malicious wounding and possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, police said.

Police were called to the City Limits Lounge on W.Va. 9, west of Martinsburg, at around 3 a.m. Wednesday for a report of a hit-and-run accident. Berkeley County Sheriff's Department Deputy Chris McCulley, who was off duty at the time, said he was in the club's parking lot talking to someone, according to records filed in Berkeley County Magistrate Court.

Trumpower twice told the driver of the car to leave her alone, records state.

The car was driven into the parking lot a third time and hit Trumpower, Sherman said. The car also knocked over and damaged McCulley's motorcycle, police said.

Because Taylor is not from the area - Sissonville is about 10 miles north of Charleston, W.Va. - Sherman checked motels in the area to see if he spotted a car that matched the description of the car that hit the woman.

Sherman found the car in the parking lot of the Comfort Inn on Edwin Miller Boulevard in Martinsburg, where a clerk said Taylor was staying, records state. In Taylor's room, police found a pipe used to smoke marijuana and a bottle of pills that did not belong to Taylor, police allege. In his car, police alleged they found three bags of marijuana and a film container filled with marijuana.

Sherman said Thursday that he does not believe Taylor and the victim were involved in a relationship, but said rather that Taylor had apparently met Trumpower that night at the bar.

Sherman said he was waiting to talk to Trumpower, who was taken to City Hospital. A hospital spokeswoman said Thursday afternoon that Trumpower was listed in good condition.

Conviction on a charge of malicious wounding carries a sentence of up to five years in prison, while conviction on the drug charge carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison.